Controlling device.



R. CAUDRON.

CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 15. 1917.

1 25%,92 Patented Jan. 29, 1918.

S PAT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 29, 1918.

Application filed February 15, 1917. Serial No. 148,871.

-To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. llaxr'zthinnnox, engineer, citizen of the French Republic. residing at Issy les l\loulineaux. Department of Seine. France. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specifi cation.

This invention relates to controlling devices more particularly constructed for use in connection with aeroplanes or like machines wherein the chief controlling member used for the operation of the vertical rudder is arranged to be actuated with the aid of pedals by the feet of the aviator.

According to this invention the chief controlling member has the pedals rotatably journaled thereon and is provided with a clutch preferably in the form of a ratchet sector and two pawls having an inverse action so that when the actuation takes place by the operation of one of-the pedals the pawl which tends to resist displacement in one direction is released from the ratchet sector and when the device is actuated by the other pedal in the opposite direction the other pawl is released from its engagement, as will be clearly understood from a description of th accompanying drawing which illustrates by way of example and in a plan view the controlling member used in aeroplanes for the operation of the vertical rudder, constructed according to this invention.

The controlling member a for the operation of the vertical rudder is. as usual. rota tably journaled about an axis or pivot I). Now, instead of securing rigidly, as hitherto, to this member a the pedals 0 and 0 enabling the pilot to oscillate the member a about the axis 6 in order to direct the vertical rudder to the right or to the left accord ing to the pedal operated by him,these pedals are each rotatably journaled on a vertical pivot 0 on the member a.

Secured to the axis 6 is a ratchet member 61 having the. circumferential parts facing the pedals c and 0 provided with the teeth (2 and d inclined in opposite directions, forming two reverse ratchet sectors.

Connected to each of the pedals is a rod 6 terminating adjacent to the teeth d in a claw e and adjacent to the teeth d in a claw e these claws e 6 beingadapted to act like pawls. Eye-pieces f are secured to the member a to act as guides for the rods e and a spring 9 is confined between the eye pieces f on each side and an abutment 0 which is secured to each rod, the spring 9 tending to force the claws e and e into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet member all.

As will be readily understood, when the pilot depresses the pedal 0 the claw e is first disengaged from the teeth d and the member a in being caused to oscillate in the direction of the arrow it causes the claw e to glide or ride idly on the teeth (Z Similarly when the pilotdepresses the pedal 0 the member a is oscillated in the opposite direction.

As soon as the pilot ceases to act on the member a, the latter is immediately blocked and prevented from rotating in either one direction or the other and the rudder set by the preceding action of the pilot is, therefore, maintained immovably in the position which it has assumed thereby.

It is obvious that the invention is in no way limited to the particular form hereinbefore described but that it is capable of numerous variations, for instance, such as would result if, instead of one toothed ratchet member, several separate ratchet sectors having offset ratchet teeth were employed or a single ratchet sector with several movable offset pawls were used in order to enable the controlling parts o be locked in no matter. what position.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In controlling means for use more particularly in aeroplanes, in combination with a controlling member directlyactuated by pedals, of a ratchet sector rigidl secured to the fixed axis of the said mem r and cooperating with two pawls capable of acting in inverse directions so that in actuating the controlling device in one direction the pawl opposed to its displacement in the same direction is released from its engagement with the ratchet sector and in actuating the device in the inverse direction the other pawl is thrown out of engagement therewlth.

2. In a controlling device for aeroplanes, the combination of a main controlling member, a pair of pedals movably connected to said member and through the medium of which said member is actuated, a retaining member, and clutches cooperative with said retaining member to hold the controlling member in different adjusted positions, said clutches being releasable automatically by actuation of the respective pedals.

In a controlling device for aeroplanes, the combination of a main controlling member, v pair of actuating pedals movably connected to said member and through the medium of which said member is shifted, a retaining member, and clutches operatively connected to the respective pedals and arranged to cooperate with the retaining member, each of said clutches being released by relative movement of its respective pedal with respect to the controlling member incident to actuation of such pedal and the controlling member.

4-. In a controlling device of the character described, the combination of a main controlling member, a pair of pedals movably connected thereto and through the medium of which said member is actuated, a retaining member, and a pair of clutches controlled by the respective pedals, each clutch permitting relative movement between the ratchet sectors coaxial with the pivot of the controlling member, and ratchet pawls' cooperative with the respective ratchet sectors, said pawls being operatively connected to the respective pedals and being releasable automatically by the movement of such pedal relatively to the controlling member incident to actuation of such pedal and the controlling member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

. RENE CAUDRON. Witnesses:

OHAs. P. PREssLY, PAUL BLUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenm Washington, D. C. 

